Puzzle and support therefor



7 Oct. 2, 1934. y R. ROBERTS 1,975,667

PUZZLE AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed March 24, 1955 mun INVENTOR Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITE STATES PATENT orrlce 2 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to puzzles of the type having blocks arranged in slots in a box or frame and on which is printed a picture or other representation, each block representing a portion 5101 the picture or representation, the purpose of the puzzle being to arrange the blocks in their proper order to complete the picture or representation.

An object of the invention is to provide a puzzle 10. of this character with an improved frame for holding the blocks, in which the blocks are secured against removal and which has certain vacant spaces permitting the turning and shifting of the blocks to effect a change in the relation thereof.

The invention comprehends a frame made up of a series of slotted sections arranged in spaced parallel relation and a series of similar slotted sections arranged in spaced parallel relation at right angles to the first series and which interfit therewith to provide intersecting longitudinal and transverse slots in which the blocks are arranged, each of said sections being provided with a single slot in the direction of its length and with a number of transverse slots equally spaced along its length and which intersect with the lengthwise slot.

Other objects of the invention reside in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be described and claimed hereinafter,

The invention is shown in the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a puzzle embodying the invention, with a portion broken away to show the support therefor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of one of the blanks from which the frame is constructed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the 40,; blank bent to form one of the sections of the frame;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the frame, illustrating the manner of securing the blocks in the slots;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the frame;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of one of the blocks.

The puzzle illustrated in the drawing includes a rectangular box 11, having a bottom 12 and up- "59;; standing sides 13, in which box is arranged a frame 14, provided with a series of spaced vertical slots 15 and a series of spaced horizontal slots 16, which cross or intersect with the vertical slots. Mounted upon the frame 14 in contiguous relation, are blocks 17 having printed thereon or otherwise applied thereto on their upper faces, a picture or other representation, each of the blocks representing a portion of the picture or representation and which when assembled in their proper order or arrangement, complete the 60' formation of the picture or representation.

7 The blocks are mounted in parallel rows centrally over the slots 15 and 16, and are secured in the slots in a manner to slide upon the face of the frame by means of a screw 18 secured in the body of each of the blocks and depending therefrom through the slots, each of said screws having an enlarged head or button 19 preventing disengagement of the blocks from the frame.

' The frame 14 is made up of a series of slotted sections20, arranged vertically in equallyspaced relation, and a series of similar slotted sections 20 arranged horizontally in equally spaced relation, which interfit with the first series at right angles thereto. Each of the sections 20 is preferably made from a sheet metal blank, as shown in Fig. 2, which is slotted to form a series of spaced parallel rectangular shaped openings 21 on each side of the main rectangular body portion 22, and forming between the rectangular opening 21, web portions 23 and flange portions 24, having projecting ends 25. Between the projecting ends 25,

the blank is slotted at 26, which slots communicate with the rectangular slots 21.

To form a section 20, the web portions 23 on each side of the main section 22 are bent upwardly at right angles thereto on lines 27, the flange portions 24 on opposite sides of the blank being folded inwardly on lines 28 at right angles to the web portions 23, to form a slot 29 therebetween, which extends lengthwise of the blank and with the slots 26 on opposite sides of the blank alining to form transverse slots 30 which cross or intersect with the lengthwise slot 29, as shown in Fig. 3.

A series of sections 20 of the same length arranged vertically in equal spaced relation, are secured to a series of similar sections 20 arranged horizontally or at right angles to the first series, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with the projecting ends 25 of one series overlying the projecting ends 25 of the other series and being secured thereto in any desired manner, it being understood that the sections 20 in each series are of a proper length so that when the sections are fitted together, the frame is of a size to fit within the upstanding sides 13 of the box 11. Thus there is provided a frame having a series of vertical slots 15 which are intersected by a series of transverse slots 16 extending entirely over the face of the frame.

The blocks 17, as shown in Fig. 1, are rectangular in shape, but it is understood that these blocks may have irregular shaped side edges, adjacent blocks being cut to interfit, so that when the blocks are in their proper order or arrangement they will fit close together to complete the formation of the picture or representation.

The frame may be provided with additional slots 31 formed by short vertical sections 20 and by certain of the horizontal sections being extended to interfit therewith. This portion of the frame is provided to permit the turning or rearranging of the blocks on the main body of the frame, it being understood that this portion is empty when the blocks are assembled in their proper order on the frame.

The ends of each of the sections 20 are formed with narrow Webs 32 which are approximately half the width of the webs 23 and which have a single extension 25. The box 11 is also provided with a block 33, which closes the ends of the slots 16 and 31, respectively, for holding the blocks on the frame.

It is to be understood that the frame 14 fits snugly within the box 11, which is secured therein on the bottom 12 by any desired means.

lclaim:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame, said frame being made up of a series of parallel equally spaced sections and a second series of parallel equally spaced similar sections interfitting with the first series at right angles thereto, each of said sections being provided with a single slot extending lengthwise thereof and a plurality of parallel transverse slots which intersect with the lengthwise slot at right angles, the sections in the first of said series interfitting with the sections in said second series to provide a row of equally distant transverse slots intersected by a row of slots at right angles to said first row.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame, said frame being made up of a series of parallel equally spaced similar sections and a second series of parallel equally spaced similar sections interfitting with the first series at right angles thereto, each of said sections being formed of a strip having a main body portion constituting the bottom of the section and equally spaced upstanding web portions on each side of said main body portion, with an opening between adjacent web portions on each side of said main body portion, said web portions each having an end portion, the end portions on opposite web portions being bent inwardly to face each other to form a slot therebetween, each of said ends having a lateral extension which forms with an adjacent extension a slot at right angles to the first-mentioned slot, the extensions on one ofsaid series of sections overlying the extensions on theother of said series and being-connected thereto for fastening the series together. I

3. In a device of the character described, a frame comprising parallel sections, each section having a base provided along its opposite, parallel edges with upstanding supports oppositely disposed in pairs, each support having atritsupper end an inturned flange parallel to the plane of the baseand spaced apart to form alined-slots, said flanges at each end extending beyond-the support and forming transverse, slots intersecting the alined slots, said supports and transverse slots in adjacent sections being in alinement with, each other. i

RICHARD E. ROBERTS. 

